Research Paper On Ben Franklin's Thirteen Virtues

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Thirteen Virtues Benjamin Franklin is known as one of the great minds of the eighteenth century. He is often cited as America’s “first citizen” and is still considered to be America’s most effective statesman and representative. He was a major influence on thinking and society of that time and his thoughts and writings have gone on to influence every generation of Americans. He once said that “[h]e that speaks much is much mistaken” (Franklin), however, he is one of the most quoted men of his time. It seems that He could rarely be mistaken. Benjamin Franklin was born on January 17th, 1706 in Boston, Massachusetts, to Josiah Franklin and Abiah Folger Franklin. Benjamin, who was the tenth child, of seventeen sisters and brothers, “the youngest son of a youngest son for five generations back” (Franklin). Benjamin was a smart child who loved to read Abiah and Josiah wanted Benjamin to be a clergyman, but due to financial issues they could not send Benjamin to college, so Josiah had him first apprenticed as a candle maker and then to his brother, James as a typesetter in a printing press. The books, papers and ideas he was introduced to in his brother’s shop set the young man on a path to greatness. He went on to do amazing things in his lifetime. Benjamin Franklin was America’s first postmaster general, established Philadelphia’s first police department, fire department and fire insurance company, as well as founded Philadelphia’s first hospital and the institution that eventually became The University of Philadelphia (Franklin). I think he may have had an experience involving a fire causing him or someone he knew to get hurt. He was also an inventor. He invented the lightening rod, the odometer and a new, less dangerous way to heat the home, the “Franklin stove” (Franklin). To me, Franklin is considered the Father of Electricity. He was all about making the world

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